The United Nations General Assembly resolution 58/218 mandates United Nations Regional Commissions in collaboration with the secretariat of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), regional and subregional organizations and bodies, as well as regional offices of funds, programmes, international finance and trade institutions and other organizations of the United Nations system, to organize multi-stakeholder Regional Implementation Meetings (RIMs) and to provide regional inputs into the work of the CSD. In this context, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has been organizing RIMs in collaboration with partner organizations since 2003.
In preparation for the Eighteenth Session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development NCSD-18), the Africa RIM was held in October 2009 under the auspices of the Sixth Session of the Committee on Food Security and Sustainable Development (CFSSD-6). ECA organized the RIM in collaboration with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Industrial Development
Organization (UNIDO) and other partners. The RIM reviewed progress in the implementation of Agenda 21 (A21), the Programme for Further Implementation of Agenda 21 (PFIA21) and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI) commitments relative to the thematic areas of Transport, Chemicals, Waste Management, Mining, and A Ten-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP).
This executive summary draws from the Africa Review report on the same which was prepared under the leadership of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) for the Africa Regional Implementation Meeting (RIM) for NCSD-18. It provides an overview of trends and emerging issues on waste management in Africa. It highlights progress and achievements, identifies implementation challenges and constraints, as well as lessons learned. It also outlines the way forward, including policy measures and actions needed to accelerate implementation.